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Wednesday, May 13, 2015

BUTUAN CITY, May 13 (PIA) – The Department of
Science and Technology (DOST) Caraga will be holding the roadshow dubbed as
“Science Nation: Agham na Ramdam” on May 27-29, 2015.

DOST-Caraga regional director Dominga Mallonga
bared that a Science Forum/Meeting with DOST Sec. Mario Montejo will be held on
the said dates.

“Along with the forum/meeting with Sec. Montejo,
the following activities will also be conducted: STARBOOKS launching, CEST
project visit to Jabonga, Agusan del Norte; inauguration and blessing of the Complementary
Food Facility in Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte; the groundbreaking ceremony for
the field testing of the Integrated Gold-Copper Mineral Processing Pilot Plant
in del Pilar, Cabadbaran City; and the groundbreaking ceremony of the
Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Caraga Campus in Ampayon, this city,”
Mallonga enumerated.

Mallonga encouraged the partner stakeholders to
grab this opportunity to learn many things from the roadshow and be able to
share their issues and concerns. “On this three-day activities, we will surely
learn updates and new strategies in the field of Science and Technology,” she
said.

Also, a press conference will be held in the
afternoon on May 27, 2015 at Samping Avenue, this city. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

GSIS celebrates 78th anniv, provides medical and
wellness services to its members

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, May 13 (PIA) – The Government Service
Insurance System (GSIS) here will be conducting a bloodletting activity on May
22, 2015 at the GSIS building along J.C. Aquino Avenue.

Said event formed part of the agency’s lined-up
activities for its 78th year of dedicated service to its members and pensioners
on May 31, 2015.

According to GSIS Butuan Branch Manager Marciana
Bata, a nationwide bloodletting drive will be conducted and spearheaded by the
GSIS Medical and Wellness Services Department and the Philippine Red Cross
(PRC) Agusan del Norte-Butuan City Chapter.

“This activity aims to encourage everyone to give
back to the community by helping save precious lives through blood donation.
Blood is life and by donating blood, we share a part of ourselves to those
people who need it,” disclosed Bata.

Bata further emphasized that by donating blood,
donors can benefit free health screening and reduce the risk of heart disease.
“It is also an act of altruism that makes us feel good. It burn calories and
refresh your bodily systems,” she added.

For more information on the said activity, the
GSIS Butuan can be reached at telephone number (085) 342-1650. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

SurSur Local DRRM members attend PDRA orientation

By Grace Barcena

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, May 13 (PIA) – The
local Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) officers from the two cities
and 17 municipalities with some members of the Provincial DRRM council in
Surigao del Sur convened recently for a one-day Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment
(PDRA) orientation held in this city.

The PDRA is a process to evaluate a particular
hazard’s characteristics and its impact to the population. It also further
determines the appropriate level of response of corresponding actions from
concerned agencies, LGUs, and other stakeholders.

On August 18, 2014, the National Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) issued Memorandum Circular 17 calling
for the institutionalization of the PDRA in all concerned agencies such as the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to include the Philippine Institute
of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the Philippine Atmospheric,
Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA); Department of
Interior and Local Government (DILG); Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD); National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA);
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to include the Mines and
GeoSciences Bureau (MGB) and National Mapping and Resource Information
Authority (NAMRIA); and Office of the Civil Defense (OCD).

The issued memorandum circular shall apply
accordingly to all the DRRM councils and other agencies concerned that are
responsible for execution of preventive and mitigating measures into
preparedness and emergency preparedness activities, said Catedral.
(NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

Butuan dad bares Vision 2020 updates

By Daisy Jane M. Apit

BUTUAN CITY, May 13 (PIA) - City Mayor Ferdinand
Amante Jr., MD bared on Tuesday the progress on the Vision 2020 during the
Balik Butuan, the Grand Reunion at Brgy. Baan, this city.

“In a span of one and a half years, the vision of
everyone, our vision, Vision 2020 had already taken a leap in the city’s
journey to become a model of sustainable development. Butuan had been tagged as
the fastest Public Governance System (PGS) achiever. Through this, we believe
that by 2020, our city will have the highest per capita growth in Mindanao or
even in the whole Philippines,“ Mayor Amante said.

He added that among the nine local government
units which adapted the PGS of the Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA), the
city is the youngest member.

The said vision was made to create the city as an
agent of resilient environmentally sound economic growth and development. It
had combated the city’s issues on food and water security, environment
conservation, eco-tourism, renewable energy source, livelihood opportunities,
climate change adaptation and poverty reduction.

The mayor also disclosed the city’s breakthrough
goals which included growing and nurturing 5 billion trees by June 2015;
establishing of four forest parks through public-private cooperation by June
2015, which the master plans and transformation of the dumpsites to eco-park
with the aid of PhilHealth-Butuan had already taken actions; and organizing
farmers for the integrated cacao seedlings farming to 1,000 hectares city land.

“Butuan had also received the silver trailbrazer
award for its development proficiency at the Philippine International
Convention Center (PICC) last May 4 and this coming November, we are still
waiting for the results of the evaluation made for the Island of good
governance rating for us to be included in the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC),” Mayor Amante said. (DJA/PIA-Caraga)

Butuanon balikbayans join 'buwanon nga kabilin'
grand reunion

By Daisy Jane M. Apit

BUTUAN CITY, May 13 (PIA) – Balikbayans from
Italy, Norway, Canada, Australia, Georgia, Japan, Belgium, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,
Germany, United Kingdom (UK) and United States of America (USA) celebrated
their homecoming grand reunion held on Tuesday, May 12 at the Filinvest
Subdivison, Baan, this city.

Balik Butuan, one of the highlights of the
Balangay Festival 2015, was not only a one night program for welcoming the town
returnees but composed of the following events: highschool reunions, city’s
tourist attractions visitation; Sports fest including baroto race and swimming
contest at a river; project turnovers supported by Souvenir Journal family ads
and Donor Circle race; the Duom Hong Pasidungog - awarding the Ten Outstanding
Butuanons and celebrating the city’s buwanon nga kabilin (golden heritage).The
activities were scheduled to be conducted from May 7 to May 20.

During the grand reunion, they were not only
reunited but were also given the chance to relived Butuanon life. They have
experienced 'buhay baryo' (life in the barrio) again with their old rekindled
friends, neighbors and relatives through the food, drinks and music.

The balikbayans retasted the Butuanon delicacies
such as the Kusilua, Toron, Daba daba, Tinumpi Palitaw, Paw with Latik, Bingka
and Palagsing. Palagsing is one of the most authentic Butuanon dessert which is
a brown, sticky suman made of sago starch called Unaw, young coconut and sugar.

They also got to nip again Butuanon drinks such as
Durian shake, Laksoy (liquor distilled from the sap of a nipa palm) fuzzion,
and sago’t gulaman.

Local performers brought the baryo fiesta essence
by dancing Filipino folk dances such as Tinikling and Sayaw sa Maglalatik (also
known as the Magbabao).

The program’s highlights were the presentation of
City Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr. of the Vision 2020 and the awarding of the
Outstanding Butuanons.

It was attended by the city officials, Balangay
Festival committee officers, Mutya Hong Butuan (MHB) candidates, and
balikbayans. (FEA/DJA/PIA-Caraga)

DSWD-Caraga strengthens implementation of MCCT-IP
on GIDA

BUTUAN CITY, May 13 (PIA) - The Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga through the Pantawid
Pamilyang Pilipino Program strengthens the implementation of Modified
Conditional Cash Transfer for Indigenous People (MCCT-IP).

This project under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino
Program was created for the Indigenous People (IP) in Geographically Isolated
and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA.

MCCT-IP as a program is driven with its three main
goals; (1) to empower, (2) to promote, (3) and protect from any unavoidable
adverse effects caused by the development process.

On its implementation, MCCT-IP uses the
Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) strategy but with modifications in terms of
processes in targeting, conditionalities, package of benefits, interventions
and modes of implementation. The project also employs holistic approach of
community organizing.

"This project requires close coordination
with the tribal chieftains to ensure that cultural integrity remains while the
project is implemented,” said DSWD Caraga regional director Minda B. Brigoli.

On the identification of potential beneficiaries,
community facilitators consider the following; Indigenous peoples living
outside or inside their ancestral domains particularly those with no or limited
access to social services, IP families with children aged 0-18 years old and/or
pregnant member of the family at the time of selection, and IPs who are
vulnerable and disadvantaged based on the assessment done by the community
facilitators.

“Because IP plays a significant part in our
community. Like those partner-beneficiaries belong to the regular CCT,
MCCT-IP-beneficiaries deserve to receive equal opportunities. And we do it by
giving them support services interventions like working hand in hand with them
on livelihood activities, capability building training, promotion of IP rights,
or any collective engagement that will enhance self-determination, and through
community family development sessions,” Brigoli added.

MCCT-IP for GIDA is arranged with the following
institutions, DSWD with the Department of Health, Department of Education,
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Department of the Interior and Local
Government, National Anti-Poverty Commission and qualified civil society
organizations. (DSWD-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)

Servicing of claims for the bank’s Head Office and
other banking offices (OBOs) in Placer, Surigao City and Tubod will be
conducted at the head office premises located at Corner Rizal and Gimena
Streets, Surigao City on May 14, 15, and 18, 2015. Servicing of claims for
depositors of the Butuan branch will be conducted at its office premises at the
Ground Floor, E. Tan Realty Building., Villanueva St., Butuan City on May 14
and 15, 2015. Claims will be serviced from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Meanwhile, claims from depositors of General Luna
Branch and Dapa OBO will be received at the General Luna Branch premises
located at Barangay 5, Poblacion, General Luna, Surigao Del Norte until May 15,
2015. After said date, depositors may send their duly accomplished Claim Form
and required documents by mail to the Assistant Vice President of the Claims
Processing Department at the PDIC Office, 4th Floor, SSS Bldg., 6782 Ayala
Avenue corner V.A. Rufino Street, 1226 Makati City. Depositors of OBOs in
Cagayan de Oro, Davao City and Tacloban City are likewise advised to mail their
Claim Forms and required documents to the same address. Deposit insurance
claims received in the General Luna office and through mail will be processed at
the PDIC office and check payments and payment notices will be sent through
registered mail to the depositors.

Depositors with valid deposit balances of P50,000
and below, with complete mailing address found in the bank records or updated
through the Mailing Address Update Form, and without any outstanding obligation
with the bank do not need to file claims.

Depositors with account balances of more than
P50,000 and those with outstanding obligations with the closed SRBC or with
incomplete mailing address, or those who maintain the account under the name of
business entities, regardless of type of account and account balance, are
required to file their deposit insurance claims. The announcement on the claims
settlement operations of SRBC is posted at its offices and in the PDIC website,
www.pdic.gov.ph.

When filing claims for deposit insurance,
depositors are advised to personally present the original copy of evidence of
deposit such as Savings Passbook and Certificate of Time Deposit, and two (2)
valid photo-bearing IDs with signature of the depositor. Depositors who are not
able to come personally may file their claims through mail enclosing the same
set of documentary requirements.

Depositors who are below 18 years old should be
represented by a parent who should submit a photocopy of the child’s Birth
Certificate issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) or a duly certified
copy issued by the Local Civil Registrar as an additional requirement. The
parent will sign the Claim Form and the other requirements. Claimants who are
not the signatories in the bank records are required to submit an original copy
of a notarized Special Power of Attorney (SPA). In the case of a minor
depositor, the SPA must be executed by the parent.

The procedures and requirements for filing of
deposit insurance claims are posted in the PDIC website, www.pdic.gov.ph. The Claim Form and format of the Special
Power of Attorney may also be downloaded from the PDIC website. PDIC will not
accept claims which are incomplete or lacking in requirements.

Depositors who are not able to file their claims
during the claims settlement operations period may submit their claims either
through mail to PDIC or personally at the PDIC Office, 4th Floor, SSS Bldg.,
6782 Ayala Avenue corner V. A. Rufino Street, Makati City starting on June 1,
2015.

In accordance with the provisions of the PDIC
Charter, the last day for filing deposit insurance claims in the closed SRBC is
on April 24, 2017. After this date PDIC, as Deposit Insurer, shall no longer
accept any deposit insurance claim.

The PDIC said that all valid claims will be paid.
For deposits to be considered valid, it must be recorded in the bank’s records
and must have evidence of inflow of funds, based on the results of PDIC
examination. PDIC, as Receiver, has the authority to adjust the interest rate
on unpaid interests on deposits of a bank if such rate is deemed unreasonable.
(PDIC/PIA-Caraga)

AFP, PNP joint operatives clash with Bagani group
in mining area in SurSur; seize guns, ammo

By Greg Tataro, Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, May 13 (PIA) –
Weapons, ammunition and other gadgets plus food supplies were seized by joint
army and police forces following a skirmish at 7:30 a.m. on May 13, 2015 with
the “Bagani group,” who was allegedly behind the hostage-taking of 23 mining
company workers on May 11, 2015 in Carrascal town, 72 kilometers north, this
city.

However, all workers of Nickelbase, Inc., a
subcontractor of CNC Mining, have been already freed on the very same day
unharmed without any ransom paid after two hours and also after Mayor Vicente
Pimentel, Jr. immediately convened the Crisis Management Committee to address
the situation.

Yet the armed group has continued to hide out in
the area holding back mining equipment comprising of 30 units backhoe,
undetermined number of dump trucks, and four units of drilling machines.

Pueblas reported three M16A1 rifles, two rifle
grenades, backpacks, a cellphone, foodstuffs and tents were recovered at the
clash site after a 20 minute-firefight with some 10 of the estimated 23-group
rogue members of Bagani.

Nobody was hurt on the part of government, but
operatives have yet to determine the number of casualty/ies on the enemy side

It can be recalled in a text message to media by
Capt. Al Anthony Pueblas, civil military operations (CMO) officer of the 36th
Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (PA) that at around 8:00 a.m. on May
11, 2015, some 20 armed men believed to be rogue members of Bagani, described
as tribal guards of indigenous peoples’ (IP) communities in Carrascal, led by a
certain Ruperto Ponson a.k.a. Datu Bakintoy held captive some personnel of
Nickelbase, Inc.

The CMO officer likewise added that a number of
mining equipment at Quarry 5, Barangay Babuyan are being withheld, citing a
certain Rene Guerta, supervisor of Nickelbase, Inc., was informed of the
alleged P24 million demand for ransom in exchange for the release of hostages
including the equipment. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

DSWD to assess 494,372 households in Caraga

By Maria Cecilia N. Sosas

BUTUAN CITY, May 13 (PIA) – The Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga through the Listahanan project
targets to assess 494,372 households in the region.

Nine hundred thirty-one field staff are now on
board for the second round family assessment that started on May 11, 2015. Within a month, they will assess the rural
areas even the far flung places including the Indigenous Peoples’ (IP)
communities. Furthermore, households in the urban areas will also be assessed.

The enumerators who will conduct the assessment
will use pen and the Family Assessment Form (FAF).

The Listahanan uses FAF as a main tool in
conducting a household assessment. It contains 52 variables divided into five
parts which are identification, socio-economic information, household rooster,
declaration, and certification. These indicators will determine the
socio-economic status of a certain household.

“We will ensure that all households in the region
will be assessed. No one should be left behind,” said DSWD-Caraga regional
director Minda B. Brigoli.

Listahanan is a national government project
implemented by DSWD. It is an information management system that aims to
establish a reliable database of poor families to be prioritized in the
delivery of social protection programs and services of the Government. (Social
Marketing Unit/DSWD-13/PIA-Caraga)

BUTUAN CITY, May 13 (PIA) - To improve the skills
of the farmers in handling costumers and further enhance their marketing
strategy, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)-Caraga in partnership with
the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) conducted the three-day training on
marketing strategy and good costumer handling and services to 10 agrarian
reform beneficiaries organizations on May 5-7, 2015.

DAR-Caraga regional director Julita Ragandang,
during the opening of the activity said, that this effort is towards making
farming entrepreneurial more rewarding. "We teach our agrarian reform
beneficiaries to maximize the potentials of their products," she added.

The said activity is under the Village Level
Processing Center Enhancement Project (VLPCEP) and Up-Valuing of ARB Products'
project of DAR. (DAR-13/PIA-Caraga)

News Feature: Reaching peace and development: The
PAMANA-DILG, USAD way

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Mar. 13 (PIA) - Two
flagship programs of both the provincial government of Agusan del Sur and the
national government are now due for implementation aimed at reaching out
lasting peace and development in the province.

The Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan of the
Department of the Interior and Local Government (PAMANA-DILG), a national
government program with 10 projects mostly infrastructure and water development
for conflict affected areas in the province in order for the local residents to
have better access to deliver their farm products to the market and water
system for healthy supply of drinking water, while the provincial government of
Agusan del Sur is pushing its way towards local development thru the
distribution of planting materials and technical knowledge transfer to remote
and upland areas mostly recipients of the PAMANA-DILG program.

Agusan del Sur PAMANA focal person Armando Gomez
said the first tranche of the fund equivalent to 80 percent of the total cost
of the 10 projects amounting to P289 million has already been released to
Agusan del Sur. Gomez said these projects will then start this month after the
issuance of the Certificate of Availability of Funds (CAF). The remaining 20
percent will be released upon completion of the projects, it was learned.

“We are very grateful to be one of the recipients
of PNoy’s PAMANA program in Agusan del Sur because as we push forward our
flagship program called the Upland Sustainable Agri-forestry Development, we
will no longer worry of the road construction and rehabilitation towards our
target areas because of the PAMANA infrastructure projects. Therefore, instead
of spending for the roads, bridges and other infra projects, we can provide
more planting materials for our farmers out from the supposed budget for the
roads and bridges,” Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza said.

The PAMANA projects mentioned above started after
the mainstreaming and identification of priority areas in the local government
planning last 2013 participated by the provincial government of Agusan del Sur,
DILG officials, the military and the Office of the Presidential Adviser for
Peace Process (OPAPP) represented by OPAPP Caraga and ComVal point person
Oliver Binancilan. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

DENR 13 holds special confab on Zero Illegal
Logging Drive

By Eric Herzon F. Gallego

BUTUAN CITY, May 13 (PIA) —Senior staff including
the top officials of PENR and CENR offices of the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources Region (DENR) 13 under regional director Nonito M. Tamayo
have committed themselves to zero illegal logging by June 30, 2015 in the
region during the two-day Special Regional Management Conference held recently
at Samping Conference Hall, this city.

The DENR is putting more pressure on the
anti-illegal logging drive, this time with a defined and clear list of
strategies and program of actions in a final push to halt the problem that over
the year has steadily drained the resources of the government. DENR has spent
huge amount of financial resources to stop illegal logging in several hot spot
areas in Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur but timber poachers and smugglers
remain unstoppable although there has been decline in activities since Executive
Order (EO) 23 has been imposed.

EO 23 is a policy issued by President Aquino on
February 1, 2011 which declared a logging moratorium in natural and residual
forest for 25 years in the entire country.

Since 2013 to date, there has been a steady decline
in record of apprehensions of forest products in the Caraga Region. Based on
report of the DENR 13 Technical Services Enforcement Division, the record of
confiscated forest products has dropped to 1,575,468.64 board feet in 2014 from
2,102,643.38 board feet in 2011. For the first two months of the current year
there are only 117,823.90 bd ft. of confiscated forest products.

“We expect to sustain the operation until it
reaches the bottom mark or zero confiscation by June 2015 and beyond,” Tamayo
said.

He said the support of the PNP and military and
the multi sector that includes the academe, religious, LGU, environmentalist
groups and the media sector will be a major factor in the reinforced
anti-illegal logging campaign. “But more important is the participation of the
people themselves who will provide the needed information to round up timber
poachers and smugglers,” Tamayo said.

On the other hand, to cushion the impact of the
intensified drive especially for the forest dependent communities, the DENR has
also strengthened the implementation of the National Greening Program (NGP).
For this year, Caraga has targeted 43,239 has. compared to 18,736 has. and
16,676 has. in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

The special management conference also discussed
the 1 Billion Mangrove and Beach Forest Project, NGP updates and other
financial concerns. (DENR-13/PIA-Caraga)

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, May 13 (PIA) – A
symposium on “Privileged Communication” with members of media in Surigao del
Sur is set to be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on May 14, 2015 at the Adela Serra-Ty
Memorial Medical Center (ASTMMC) Annex Building.

In an invitation letter dated May 13, 2015, Alma
Trinidad, ASTMMC ED Senior Nurse, pointed out that the purpose of the
undertaking is to build “a harmonious relationship” between parties besides
other endeavors, citing in particular information dissemination of programs,
projects, and activities of the hospital.

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, May 13 (PIA) –
The enactment of Republic Act 10644 otherwise known as the “Go Negosyo Act”
authored by Senator Paulo Benigno “Bam” Aquino set the mandate of concerned
agencies and the local government units (LGUs) to promote job generation and
inclusive growth through the development of micro, small and medium enterprises
(MSMEs).

The most prominent highlight of the law is the
establishment of Negosyo Centers in every province, city and municipality. The
Negosyo Center is expected to hasten the process of starting and registering
small enterprises as well as other vital business development services.

This also includes implementation of business
development programs and projects including support services for business
conceptualization, development management, marketing, human resource capability
building and many other aspects of sustaining small businesses.

The Negosyo Center will also be used as a venue to
engaged different stakeholders like the academe, industry leaders and technical
experts in the promotion and development of MSMEs.

The first Negosyo Center in Surigao del Norte was
established at the provincial capitol complex by the provincial government
under the direction of the Governor Sol F. Matugas.

Other Negosyo Centers will be established in the
coming months in other locations to serve a wider and larger scope of clientele
entrepreneurs.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial
director Celestino L. Negapatan explained that the Go Negosyo Act provides for
setting the priority on the establishment of Negosyo Center throughout the
country that will be managed by the LGUs, DTI and/or other stakeholders.

He further explained that with the Go Negosyo Act,
DTI can now accept registration of Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs)
being one of the features of the new law.

Before, BMBEs are registered with the respective
city and municipal government units.

For more details of the said activity, interested
parties are advised to contact the DTI provincial office at telephone numbers:
826-2373; 232-4047 and email at dtisdn@yahoo.com. (SDR/DTI-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao
del Norte)

The “High Impact Breakthrough initiative” is aimed
at ensuring “attainment of Millennium Development Goal in combating HIV/AIDS,”
the DOH regional chief stressed in her invitation letter to the governor dated
May 6, 2015.

Meanwhile, the provincial health chief bared that
Surigao del Sur has posted an increase of 73.33 percent in Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive cases during the last two years
province-wide.

Dr. Algerico Irizari said persons tested positive
of HIV here have gone up to 30 in 2014, two of whom have already died.

In 2012, there were only 22 of them, he pointed
out.

Of said tally, 28 are males; only two are females,
Irizari noted.

The PHO chief said further that of the two cities
and the 17 municipalities comprising the province, only a small fraction have
remained unblemished of the disease.

In District II, all of the local government units
(LGUs)—Barobo, Hinatuan, Tagbina, Lingig, and Bislig City—were found out to
have persons tested positive of HIV, said Dr. Irizari.

Majority of the LGUs in the 1st District have also
HIV positive cases, he concluded.